A Tale of Two Shorts

Wow, admitting defeat is hard.  Admitting it with unflattering shorts is even harder.

This is a story of 24 hours, two shorts patterns, and lots of aqua twill.

I bought the Iris shorts recently and was looking forward to making them, especially because there have been lots of cute versions on Flickr and, well, I give in to peer pressure easily (see the Wiksten patterns for reference).  I had a gift card and decided to just go for it!  I've had some Lisette twill sitting around since March 2011 that would make a perfect wearable muslin, and in the meantime, I'd order the last two yards of Melody Miller Viewmasters anywhere and mint green twill to make for two versions.  I'd be adorable and I'd wear them to Savannah in August.  What would I wear with them?  That was seriously my biggest concern.  I hadn't even attempted the pattern yet and I was worried about coordination.  (Don't tell me you don't do that.)

How the mighty have fallen.

These shorts were a mess.  A mess!

So major props to my phone for producing such crappy pictures, but I wanted to send these to my mom before I made a final decision.  These were left unhemmed, because, by the time the yoke facing was in, I knew I was in trouble.  The instructions were easy, but something was wrong.  Things weren't looking great.  I have wrinkles everywhere and my butt is even wider and flatter than usual.  

I would also like to note that these are supposed to be worn about an inch below your natural waist.  These came exactly to my waist.  I have a very short torso, so high waists aren't my friend at all.  The cute vintage look isn't for me.  When I buy shorts retail (I prefer Old Navy, just btw) I buy a size larger to wear them even lower just so I look a little more like a normal person than I am.

Okay, so I chalked this up to a learning experience and decided to salvage the zipper and move on with my life.  I still have two (very expensive) yards of Viewmasters and the mint green twill, which I bought exactly enough of for the Iris shorts.  What to do?  I knew Simplicity patterns were on sale at JoAnn this weekend, and chose the Lisette Souvenir shorts (S1879) because they also have a pretty big Flickr presence.  They were a quick cut-out and this time I decided to go true muslin and baste the whole thing together, not interfacing or even cutting facings until I knew what I was in for.

Well.  These weren't good either.  I'd even say they are worse.

I basted the side seam together where the zipper would go in case I needed to adjust when I was putting them on.  I didn't even bother with a zipper in the muslin.

What the hell is going on with these shorts?  They also sit too high on my waist and there's about a yard of extra fabric in the crotch but not enough in the waist?  Also, if it was possible to make my wide butt look about three feet longer, well, these accomplished it.  God, that's just bad.

The fun thing about basting is that you can be the Incredible Hulk and rip your clothes off:

And then your cat wonders if that's a new pile she can sleep on.

So what should I do, everyone?  Stick to retail?  That's where I'm leaning right now.  I do need some ideas for 1 1/8 yards of mint green twill and 1 yard of polka dot lining that would have looked so cute with it--any good skirts that will work with that?  I wish there was enough for a Beignet...

Also, I would like to note that I don't wear all aqua outfits everyday.  I just happened to be a crayon yesterday and today.  The two days I take pictures of myself, of course.

Project 1: Simplicity 2209

Alright y'all, the New Year's Resolutions are rolling in.

This afternoon I completed Simplicity 2209, the Lisette Passport dress, which I cut out in July.  Yeah, six months ago. Why?  Because I'm ridiculous.

I wish I was one of those bloggers who had a great scene in which to pose.  My dining room is the worst.

Pattern Description
The pattern includes pieces for a dress and a jacket both.  This is a sleeveless dress with bodice and skirt, front and back darts.

Pattern Sizing
It's a big 4--sizes 6-22 are available.  This is a size 14/8.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Sure!  My darts aren't as noticeable, but I blame that on my fabric pattern.

Were the instructions easy to follow?
Yes...to a point.  The zipper was insanely confusing.  It's a lapped zipper and it's the last step, before hemming.  The illustration was not helpful, and there were no details on whether this should be done right sides together or what.  That step could use some help!

Lapped zipper

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I like that it's a Liesl & Co., and I like the basic design--this is something I could see myself wearing because it's not super trendy.  I also liked the unique darts on the front of the bodice.

Fabric Used
Laura Gunn Magnolia Branch, from the collection Magnolia Lane.  I bought it because I was yearning for the South last spring.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made
The bodice has 1/2-inch seam allowances instead of 5/8-inch.  I needed some breathing room there.

Darts on the front of bodice

Would you sew it again?

Probably not, just because I tend to not repeat patterns for myself.  I had originally wanted to make the jacket as well but I'm feeling less inclined to do that now, for some reason.

Conclusion

It's a nice dress!  I'm excited to wear it this spring and summer; the cotton will be super breathable and it'll look cute with a cardigan.

French seams in the dress!

And, finally...

Check out that mileage!

The Monique Dress

I don't know about you guys, but it's sending me into a deep depressing knowing I won't have another day off until September.  I know, we all got through winter without anything (for three months!), but I think the combination of no summer vacation and complete boredom is doing me in.  I'd love to take a few days off to just sleep and sew, but until my parents figure out where they'll be and what they'll be doing for the holidays, I can't afford to risk it.  So for now, it's work work work all the time.

I'm just having a weird week in general.  Yesterday felt like I was a kid with ADHD.  I was at work by 7:30 and just couldn't focus.  I'd sit down to work on something, and instead, I'd peel off my nailpolish, or look at the pictures in my cube, or check my phone.  Whatever.  All damn day.  I went to Starbucks (I was exhausted yesterday, which didn't help my focus) and didn't have enough money on my gift card, nor did I take anything but said gift card with me.  The manager covered the $1.18 difference, but have you any idea how embarrassing that is?  Good lord.  By the time we got home from grocery shopping last night (after 8:00), I still hadn't eaten dinner, so I settled for some deli ham and cheese and Nick's leftover Sam Adams. 

Today, while I'm wearing the dress I'm detailing below, I've also dealt with an overdrawn bank account and incessant construction overhead.  I know people overdraw their bank accounts--shit happens, you need to both pay your bills and buy groceries--but I hold myself to such high standards that this is the ultimate failure in my mind.  I can't even handle my money?  How can I handle living on my own and being responsible for other people?  Ugh.

So anyway, let's get into it.  While Nick was gone over the weekend, I sewed, and cut, and bought, and planned, and washed...pretty much everything involved with sewing.

I've had the Serendipity Studios Monique Dress in my stash since I first started thinking about sewing.  The Laura Gunn giant poppies on the front were enough to reel me in.  While I didn't choose that for my dress--it's enough being on my work bag--I still decided to make the dress.

There was one big scary thing involved with this dress: an invisible zipper.  I went in with trepidation, not even knowing how to sew a regular zipper, and came out wtih a fully functional dress!  Now, how do you like that?

Also, all fabric choices were greatly influenced by this post on Patty the Snug Bug.  I bought the shown City Weekend fabrics forever ago and knew that I didn't want to waste them on some future snot-nosed kid, so I better use them now while I have the chance.

I never take good pictures of myself.  I'm just not meant to be a fashion blogger.

The dress, pre-ironing.  I promise I ironed it this morning.  It even still smells like linen water!

Pay no attention to the mismatched waistbands!  Nick thinks they're hilarious; I'm slightly embarrassed but happy to wear a cardigan to cover them up.

Could that be...an invisible zipper?!  Yes it is!  And a hook and eye above it.

It was an okay dress.  I'm used to more professionally-written instructions, so that was hard to get used to.  Also, the waistbands.  What's wrong with me?!  I'm guessing the darts on the bodice just threw it all off, but if I had matched up the waist, the shoulders wouldn't have met.  It's a sacrifice I'm willing to make.

Some other pictures from my weekend:

My outfit for picking up Nick on Sunday.  We were also going to District Taco.  Again, not a great fashion blogger.

My first four cuts of Children at Play.  Now, what to do with them?

Does anyone have any ideas for the Children at Play yardage?  Again, not holding out for any lameo kids, so how do I use them in a non-cutesy way?  I don't want to be a sexy baby.

My sewing list is stocked up for a while.  I've cut out Simplicity 2154  in the constellation fabric I bought a while ago.  I also bought the new Lisette brown chambray from the fall line and am making the Lisette Traveler dress (view B) in it.  ALSO on the Colette blog yesterday she explained how to create pintucks in the Violet blouse...so I plan on doing that too. 

I'm exhausted just thinking about it.

Purl Soho is the Plastics

The women at Purl Soho in New York make me feel like an unpopular teenager again, and I've never met them.

I read the Purl Bee and love love love everything they make, even if it's a little weird.  (I'm pretty sure my dad wouldn't wear monogrammed cufflinks, and I don't really want to make myself a garter, but I'm glad the options are there!)  And I always feel inadequate.  Remember how my last Purl project turned out?  Yeah.  What a mess.  And everything they do always looks so great!

For that reason, I feel like, if I were to meet them, I'd be totally in awe and they'd immediately cast me aside, like I'm back in middle school.  What?  You can't believe I was unpopular in middle school?  Well, let me tell you, red hair, the body of a twentysomething and five years' worth of braces do not equal happy teenage times.  Just trust me on that.

Anyway, back to the matter at hand, last night, famed Purl blogger Molly posted her version of the Lisette Traveler dress.  A dress I've never even considered.  And now?

I want it.



Source

 In all its Liberty Lawn glory, it's gorgeous and I'd bet it feels amazing.  I'd also bet a mere mortal attempts this dress (see: me) and it somehow makes her look even dumpier than a potato sack.  Hmph.

Anyway, you can read the rest of the glorious dress here.  God, why can't I be as cool as she?

Happy Friday, yall.

Weekend Sewing

I hope I didn't already use that title, but I probably did.  I'm the worst when it comes to titles, names, etc.  I still haven't thought of a name for that big etsy business idea, and Nick is no help.  (However, I do already have a name for the fabric store I'd like to open in three to five years, so I guess my priorities are in order.)

I did lots of sewing over the weekend!  Lots.  And I have more planned for the week.  The days are longer and warmer and I just feel like I'm using all my weekend hours instead of sitting around, watching Say Yes to the Dress.  This weekend, in addition to sewing, we ran errands, went on a looooong walk to places we've never been (and saw a car accident--yikes), and did laundry.  And that was just Saturday.

An iPad cover for my aunt's birthday, thanks to this pattern.  I had been looking forever for a tutorial, but because I don't have a laptop (and I work better with patterns anyway), I decided to spend a few dollars and buy one.  The fabric was also bought on etsy and blogged about here.  The only thing I didn't like was that the pattern called for two inside pockets, which I made, but the pattern never tells you when to sew them in, and I forgot about them until I was all done and they were just looking at me, sad and blue.  So the next time I make one I'll remember.

Gotta love that classy mirrored wall we have.  Anyway, this is Simplicity 2211, the Lisette Market blouse.  I cut it out last week and didn't have a moment to spare until Friday after work.  It wasn't difficult at all to sew, but the sleeves gave me trouble, just because I've never done a set-in sleeve (ha! Can't say that again!).  I wore it yesterday to run errands and it was so comfortable!  A tip, though: make the tunic length.  I have the torso of a toddler (seriously.  I go from boobs to hips in three seconds) and it was short on me.

Inspired by Amy at Helen Ethel Studio (seriously, go check it out--gorgeous), I decided to make an Oliver + S pattern though I don't have any kids.  This is the Ice Cream Blouse in Cloud 9's My Happy Nursery fabric.  It's a size 5, so I'll probably give it to my parent's neighbor's daughter (whom I babysat from the time she could crawl), but I'm worried her sassy self will tell me it looks like "boy fabric."  I'm on the hunt for something girly and fun (without being tacky) to make the Ice Cream dress for her before I visit in June.

This photo reminds me: I need to buy some hooks at Target tonight.  My sewing photos are pitiful.

What was everyone up to this weekend?  How was everyone's Easters?  We don't really celebrate but the weather was gorgeous and perfect for a weekend outside.

Purl Soho Braided Handle Canvas tote

Did anyone see the Purl Bee Braided Handle Canvas Tote tutorial over the weekend?  I did and fell in love with it.  Good news: it's also ridiculously simple.

Bad news: the cotton duck through Purl Soho isn't cheap.  Nor is the shipping.  In fact, the total order of duck was $16, and the shipping was over $8.  Yikes.  As much as I want the hibiscus color, it will have to wait.

So now I have to find cotton duck.  You'd think it'd be easy, right?  It's canvas.  It's natural.  (This type is organic but I'm willing to sacrifice if need be.)  It's definitely a no-frills fabric.  But Google was not helpful this morning.  No colors were as brilliant as this Carr Textiles type, unfortunately, and I'm unwilling to settle because I'm afraid it'll look cheap.  That being said, I'm wondering if JoAnn's or Hancock's has anything.  How I wish we had an independent fabric store, because I'm really discouraged walking into a store and seeing NFL-licensed fleece as the spotlight fabric.  (If you're into this, no judgement, but that really isn't the focus of more modern sewing.)

Anyway, so I'll have to go this weekend.  I cut out the Lisette Simplicity 2211 Market top last night, and plan on working on it tonight.  It really doesn't look too difficult, but I've never done set-in sleeves, so that may be an issue.  I'm also awful at gathering seams, which is called for in the sleeves. 

Anyway, that's Monday.  I've had a lot on my mind lately, so sorry for the light, airy topics.  Seems better than some heavy mental!